The Miocene Sequence in Iraq, a Review and Discussion on the Stratigraphy, Paleogeography and Economic potential

The Miocene Sequence (23.03 – 5.33 Ma), in Iraq has large diversity inlithofacies, biofacies, depositional environments, tectonic effect, and geographicaldistribution. The Savian movements caused development of broad and shallowbasins, which had covered large areas in the Iraqi territory, as compared with theearlier Oligocene sequence, which was characterized by great sea level dropcausing very limited depositional basins, the main intraplate basin becamenarrower due to the tilting of west Arabia.The Miocene Sequence, in Iraq includes 11 stratigraphic units, some of themhave not formation order, and these are: Serikagni, Euphrates, Ghar, DhibanAnhydrite, Jeribe, Fatha, Nfayil, Injana, Mukdadiya, Govanda Limestone and RedBed Series. However, some of these units have age that is not limited to theMiocene, they have range of either younger or older than Miocene.The main major event that had occurred during the Miocene was the changefrom the dominating marine phase in the Early Miocene to continental phaseduring the Late Miocene. This main change is attributed to the major thrusting,which occurred during the collision of the Sanandaj – Sirjan Zone with theArabian Plate. This event also is considered as the beginning of the Neotectoniceffect in Iraq. Many formations were terminated; others were started with differentlithological and depositional environments, as well as different faunalassemblages.The faunal assemblages, depositional environments, paleogeography, lithologyof each exposed stratigraphic units are reviewed and discussed. Moreover, thetectonic effect on each exposed unit in different tectonic zones is discussed too,beside the mutual relation between the exposed units.<p>Validerad; 2016; Nivå 1; 20160829 (nadhir)